Gasolene-testing device



W. FELL.

GASOLENE TESTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 8,1920.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM FELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO VISIBLE GASOLINE FILTER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

GASOLENE-TESTIN G DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

To all whom itmay concern: Be it known that I, WILLIAM FELL, a citrzen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gasolene-Testing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in gasolene filters adapted more particularly for use in connection with the gasolene supply systems of motor vehicles, such as set forth in a co-pending application filed by me in the United States Patent Ofiice on the 5th day of September, 1919, and bearing Serial No. 321,748.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a construction for a filter which may be applied in the feed line between the supply tank and the carbureter and in such position as to be readily visible by the operator, and which will accomplish the removal of foreign material from the gasolene in a thorough and satisfactory manner, without interrupting the otherwise constant supply of gasolene to the motor. Furthermore, I propose to include as a feature and part of a gasolene filter, a means for testlng the quality of the filtered gasolene which is fed to the carbureter, such device being ordinarily known as a hydrometer, the particular advantage of the arrangement employed residing in the novel manner of associating the testing device within the filter in a Way to provide an accurate and constant indication of the uality of the liquid.

A device embodying the novel features of my invention is hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of the device, and I Fig. 2 is a view in cross section of the device on line 22, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of my invention is one designed for use for motor vehicles and comprises two receptacles 1 and 2 adapted to be mounted in vertical position in a place easy of access to the driver, such as on the dash of a motor vehicle. The receptacles 1 and 2 comprise in general two cylindric-shaped vessels having side walls of glass or other transparent material 3 and 4, respectively, and upp r a d lower metal e d alls or said receptween the end walls or caps 5 and 6, said 1 caps being provided with flanges 10 and 11, respectively, which fit over the ends of the tubular member 3, there being provided a washer as at 12, located intermedlate the cap 6 and the end admitting of the tubular memher 3 to provide a liquid-tight joint. Extending centrally of the receptacle 1 is a metal rod 13 having screw threaded engagement with the lower cap 6 and provided at its upper end with a reduced portion 14, provided with screw threads, said reduced portion projecting through the central aperture in the upper cap 5, the end of said portion 14 being surmounted by a screw cap 15. The lower portion of the rod 13 is provided 'with a passage 16 extending axially from its lower extremity upwardly, to a point substantially onehalf the height of the receptacle, at which point intake openings 16, 16 are provided. At the lower end of the rod is attached an inlet connection 17, adapted to be attached to the gasolene supply pipe leading from the gasolene tank of the vehicle and by means of which the liquid gasolene is conducted into the receptacle 1 through the passage 16 and the discharge openings 16. At the upper end of the receptacle is mounted a screen 18, said screen comprising a circular member of a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the receptacle, and preferably consisting of a layer of wire gauze superimposed upon a layer of chamois, with a suitable marginal reinforcement. The screen is provided with a central aperture through which extends the reduced portion 14 of the central rod 13, said central portion of the screen being tightly retained between the shoulder 19 formed at the base of said reduced portion 14 and a metal washer 20 mounted on the rod 13 between the screen and the cap 5. The periphery of the screen is held tightly between the upper edge of the glass side wall member 3 and the downwardly facing shoulgraduations thereon.

der 21 formed within the cap 5. The receptacle 1 communicates with the receptacle 2 as before indicated by means of the connection 9 which consists of a tubular member having threaded extremities which engage openings provided in the cap members 5 and 7, said member 9 having a passage therethrough.

The receptacle 2 is constructed in a manner very similar to the receptacle 1, the same embodying the tubular body member of glass 4, the end wall members or caps 7 and 8, and washers 22 interposed between the contacting surfaces of the members to provide a liquid-tight joint, as before described. In addition to the parts already mentioned, the receptacle 2 is provided with a plurality of parallel rods 23 which extend between the upper and lower caps 7 and 8, said rods being preferably four in number and spaced apart around the central axis of the receptacle soas to form between them a rectangular space, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The lower ends of said rods preferably extend through the lower cap 8, their ends being surmounted by nuts 24 by means of which the receptacle may be disassembled if desired. Within the space formed by the rods 23 is inclosed a liquid testing device, ordinarily known as a hydrometer 25, this device being of the ordinary construction and consisting of a glass tube having an enlarged hollow portion 26, and an upwardly extending stem 27, said stem having raduations thereon representing the speci c gravity of the liquid which is tested by the device. The hydrometer is maintained in vertical position and free to move vertically and to float freely in the gasolene by the rods 23 which form a cage, actingto confine the hydrometer within a definite space. The hydrometer is a device so well known to those skilled in the art that it is thought unnecessary to describe in detail its construction and function, other than to state that the device is designed to float in the liquid to be tested, the specific gravity being indicated on the stem 27 by the level of the liquid with respect to the The lower cap 8 is provided with a, discharge connection 28 which is connected to a pipe leading to the carbureter or similar device of the motor vehicle, the liquid within the receptacle 2 being discharged through said connection 28. At the upper end of the receptacle 2 is provided a ct cock 29 which communi cates with the interior of the receptacle and is adapted to be operated to admit air into the receptacle whenconditions demand, as will hereinafter be set forth.

The device functions in the following manner: The gasolene from the tank enters the receptacle 1 through the connection 17, passage 16, and the intake openings 16, the liquid filling said receptacle; While the motor is in operation there is a suction or pressure, as the case may be, forcing the gasolene through the feed line and obviously this same force carries the gasolene from one of the receptacles to' the other, the gasolene being forced upwardly through the screen and in so doin removes the foreign matter from the gaso enewhich collects at the bottom of the receptacle, it being noted that the discharge openings 16 are located at a suflicient height above the bottom of the receptacle in order to preclude the possibility of the foreign matter entering the inlet pipe. After passing through the screen the gasolene enters the receptacle 2 containing the hydrometer, by means of the connection 9. The gasolene fills the second receptacle to a level substantially three-quarters of its height, this level being governed by means of the pet cock 29 which may be operated to control the pressure of the air within the space above the liquid level. The gasolene is discharged from the device through the discharge connection 28 at the lower end of the receptacle 2, the supply of liquid in'said receptacle 2 being constantly replenished by the gasolene from the receptacle 1 and thus the quantity of gasolene in the receptacle 2 is maintained substantially constant.

The hydrometer 25 floats in the liquid, the height at which it stands, as indicated by the liquid level with respect to the stem 27, indicates at all times the specific gravity of the liquid. Of course, it is to be understood that the more accurate test of the specific gravity of the liquid is obtained when the motor is not operating, inasmuch as the gasolene is then at rest and the liquid' level is stable.

It is to be observed that by the particular arrangement which I have employed it is possible to filter the asolene in one of the receptacles and to col ect the foreign matter therein, the filtered gasolene being then transferred to the second receptacle where "the same is tested by means of the hydrometer mounted therein, it being noted that the gasolene thus tested is of the quality that enters the carburetor of the motor and hence a more accurate test of the quality of the gasolene actually used by the motor is obtained. By reason of the transparent walls and the location of the device in a position readily accessible to the driver it is possible for him to know at all times the condition of the fuel which is operating the motor. The foreign matter may be readily removed from the filtering receptacle from time to time by removing the screw cap 15 thus disassembling the receptacle, permitting the same to be readily emptied and cleaned, and again assembled.

Although I have disclosed a particular form ofthe device embodying the invention, 2

it is obvious that the same may be materially modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited except in so far as my invention has been specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a supply pipe, of a combined liquid filtering and testing device comprising a pair of connected receptacles adapted to be introduced in said supply pipe whereby the liquid circulates from one to the other in its passage through said pipe, the last mentioned receptacle serving as a means for readily observing the character of the liquid.

2. The combination with a supply pipe, of a combined liquid filtering and testing device comprising a pair of connected receptacles adapted to be introduced in said supply pipe whereby the liquid circulates from one to the other in its passage through said pipe, the last mentioned receptacle serving as a means for readily observing the character of the liquid, and a liquid testing device mounted in said last mentioned receptacle.

'3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a receptacle having side walls of transparent material, a plurality of longitudinally extending members mounted within said receptacle and spaced apart to form a cage, and a liquid testing device inclosed within said cage.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 35 my name this 2nd day of January, A. D. 1920.

WILLIAM FELL. 

